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Cat food

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Fatwaa.com

Asalamualaikum

I’ve read that we can’t purchase pet food made out of meat slaughtered unislamically because they’re still considered haram even if we don’t eat them. However, I recently found out that two of the brands I buy which make fish selection cat food, both have traces of non-fish meat in their food. My mother still buys meat selection even after explaining to her why we shouldn’t.

I’m finding this stressful. We have 3 cats to feed and buying this brand food is convenient as it’s in a number of stores.

Another reason why this issue brings me stress is because, often both the dry and wet food falls onto the ground either by our mistake or the cat’s doing. The dry food on the wet floor means impurity has spread. Sometimes of the food ends up on carpets too. So I’m always worried about impurity.

Can I still buy the cat food I usually get, both meat and fish selection? Or am I at least allowed to buy fish selection, as they only have a few traces of unlawful meat in them?

(Today, out of pressure from my mother, I feel I have to get the fish selection.)

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

It is not permissible for a Muslim to derive any benefit from Haram food. Thus, it is not permissible to sell, buy or even feed non Muslims or animals with Haram.

As an alternative, consider feeding normal fish or non-meat pet food to your cats, or prepare your own cat food with Halal ingredients or feed them with your leftovers. In this manner the food will not go to waste and the cats will be fed.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best

Wassalaam,

Ismail Moosa (Mufti)

References

وذكر الكرخي رحمه الله تعالى عن أصحابنا أنه لا يحل للإنسان أن ينظر إلى الخمر على وجه التلهي وأن يبل منها الطين ويسقي بها الحيوان، وكذلك الميتة لا يطعمها كلابه لأن ذلك انتفاع بها  (فتاوى قاضيخان – 117 / 3)

وَلَا يَجُوزُ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُطْعِمَ الْمَجْنُونَ الْمَيْتَةَ بِخِلَافِ الْهِرَّةِ وإذا تَنَجَّسَ الْخُبْزُ أو الطَّعَامُ لَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُطْعِمَ الصَّغِيرَ أو الْمَعْتُوهَ أو الْحَيَوَانَ الْمَأْكُولَ اللَّحْمِ وقال أَصْحَابُنَا لَا يَجُوزُ الِانْتِفَاعُ بِالْمَيْتَةِ على أَيِّ وَجْهٍ وَلَا يُطْعِمُهَا الْكِلَابَ وَالْجَوَارِحَ كَذَا في الْقُنْيَةِ (ْالفتاوى الهندية – 344 / 5)

لا بأس بأن يحمل الهرة ألى الفأرة لتأكلها لأن فيه إزالة الأذى و يكره له أن يحمل الفأرة إلى الهرة لأنه تصرف فى الميت (عيون المسائل  – 220)

This answer was collected from Fatwaa.com which is an excellent Q&A site managed by Mufti Ismail Moosa from South Africa. .

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